The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-01-11

70 actual force, without even oruerlng
the soldiers to the point OF the greatest
disturbance The other was during the
strike of March, 1886. 1t, too, was settled
after several weeks of virtual cessation OF
business with the attendant in convenience
of 1885 10 all parties concerned without
resort to force. did not even call the
state military to arms. / did, however,
issue a proclamation, calling upon the
railway company to resume traffic, and
warning all persons against opposing any
obstacle whatever in the way OF such re-
sumption. In that proclamation | stated
as clearly as the limits of such document
permitted, my notions of the relation of the
railway to the public and the consequent
obligations resting upon them
The last state democratic convention, as
you gentlemen will remember, deemed the
railroad corporations sufficiently impOr-
tant factor in our state politics to make
especial mention of them in their p. atform !;
and enunciated what l think are sound
principles that ought TO obtain in any
legislation upon this subject.
The foregoing sketch plainly proves, il
such proof be necessary, that not only
should this sub ject of ia lway corporations
receive your careful and earnest attention,
because of their very extensive operations,
but also, and more especially, because
there Is evidently something radically
wrong, from which wrong the people are
liable TO suffer great injury.
1T Is not right that when a few employees
either officers or labOrers, or both, get to
quarrelling among themselves, they shall
put stop To a public service until they
settle their petty private strifes, in which
the public have no concern, and which
quarrels are in no important particu. ar,
different from he alterations arts
ing between anv other citizens OF the
commonwealth and which are settled
among themselves without invading the
business arrangements OF the people That
they resort 10 practices which actually en-
danger the lives and property of her citi-
Zens is not to be tolerated at all The
duty of devi-ing and the authority To pro-
vide for preventing these. pernicious and
dangerous practices rests with you gentle
men. pledge the chief executive to Wig
orously execute all laws to that end. |
call your particular attention to the fol-
low ng sections OF article twelve OF our
state constitution.
Section 4. Prohibiting corporations from
engaging in other business than that express
ly authorized in its charter; also section 8,
fixing the conditions under which corpo-
ratiens NAV issue stock or bonds
and prohibiting all fictitious in
Crease of stock, also, and very specially
section IA, which declare. railways
to be public highways and the compa-
mics operating them common carriers; il
also directs the general assembly To pass
laws to correct abuses and prevent unjust
discrimination and extorIion AM 10 nix
maximum rates of charges and enforce all
such laws by adequate penalties. Also
sectien % which prohibits the president
and other officers of any railroad Company
being interested directly or indirectly In
furnishing material or supplies 10 such
company, also section IL ~hich prohibits
the consolidation of parallel or compet-
ing lines under one management; also
section 2i which prohibits railroad and
other transportation companies from
granting free passes or tickets TO members
of the general assembly, or members of the
board of equalization, or any state or
county or municipal officer
/ also deem worthy OF your careful con-
sideration what the railroad commission
ers say on page nine of their eleventh
annual report about a remedy for the
defect of our present law of rates
1t is plainly and indisputably proper
and right for the representatives OF the
people 10 provide the legislative enact
men's necessary or expedient to enforce
and execute. those laws and principles
which the people themselves have enacted
and declared in their constitution.
JOHN ; MARMADCKE